Via Mobility Services

Via Mobility Services EIN 84-0777296 Attachment #1 Form 990, Via's mission is to promote independence and self-sufficiency for people with limited mobility by providing caring, customer-focused transportation options. Via provides a variety of transportation and mobility options that improve the quality of life for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and others with limited mobility. Via's exempt purpose also encompasses contract transportation services that reduce vehicular traffic in high density areas and enhance local governments' efforts to provide accessible and available transportation options to all members of the community. Form 990, Page 2, Part III.-. Via was established in 1979 as Special Transportation for Boulder County (dba Special Transit) with initial funding from the Boulder County Commissioners, to coordinate an efficient, cost-effective and accessible transportation system for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income individuals residing in the county. Via links hundreds of individuals every day to medical appointments, treatment centers, meal sites, shelters, adult day care, educational facilities, and jobs. Our clients include older adults, mentally and physically challenged individuals, persons with chronic illnesses, temporarily disabled individuals, children in crisis, and individuals who are homeless. The organization officially changed its name from Special Transit to Via Mobility Services on 1/1/2012. Via Mobility Services (Via) is a vital community resource: The link to our society's discrete and spatially-dispersed activities is travel. Access to friends, families, employment, shopping and commerce, health and personal care, social interaction, education and cultural enrichment, - and religious expression--nearly all of the benefits of modern society--depend on our ability to transport ourselves from one location to another. High levels of mobility mean high levels of access, choice, and opportunity, which can lead to self-fulfillment, enrichment, independence, and even good health. Low levels of mobility can lead to isolation from friends and lack of access to the community as well as to critical services, food and health care. For many older adults and individuals with disabilities, a lack of mobility options poses one of the greatest challenges to remaining independent. Form 990., Page 2. Part III: Question 4a. Via provides traditional paratransit service in eight counties. This service is a wheelchair-accessible, door-through-door, driver-assisted, demand-response service, serving older adults and individuals with disabilities. Via Paratransit provided over 81,247 trips and served more than 2,418 unduplicated individuals in 2024. Via also acts as a travel navigator and helps all new clients to connect to the many transportation options that exist in their communities. During 2024, 16,001 new callers contacted Via for assistance and 2,744 had individual travel plans developed. These transportation and mobility programs are funded by multiple sources including government grants, foundations, businesses and individuals. Via uses several performance measures to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of service including: cost per trip, trips by community and by purpose, client demographics, call center wait time, number of preventable accidents per 100,000 miles traveled and more. The most recent program outcomes measurement evaluation showed that 91% of our riders rated Via good or excellent for overall service. Form 990. Page 2, Part III: Question 4b. Under contract agreement with the City of Boulder and the University of Colorado-Boulder, Via operates the HOP, a high frequency circulator shuttle that connects the major retail, business and educational centers in the congested core of the city. Operating on short frequencies, seven days/week, commuters, students, downtown workers, visitors, seniors and people with disabilities are all well served by the HOP. Using electric buses, the HOP helps reduce pollution, improves air quality, mitigates traffic and supports the local economy by increasing accessibility to the main areas of the city. The HOP provided 545,487 trips in 2024. Form 990, Page 2, Part III: Question 4d. Under contract agreement with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), Via operates FlexRide transportation services in 24 metro Denver-Area Communities. FlexRide is a hybrid demand responsive service operating in specific communities where fixed routes are generally not cost effective. Drivers take ride requests directly from a passenger. Designed to connect people to the RTD Park-n-Rides during peak hours of commuter travel, the service is open to anyone living or working within the defined geographic area. Via's FlexRide program provided 180,284 trips in 2024. Via was awareded additional FlexRide service beginning July 1, 2024.